Brooke Van Sickle understands that championships are never handed on a silver platter. They are earned through grit, perseverance, and unwavering determination.
As the Petro Gazz Angels march into the playoffs of the 2024-25 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference, the Fil-Hawaiian star knows the real battle is just beginning.
After blazing through the preliminaries with a dominant nine-game winning streak, Van Sickle now shifts her focus to a different kind of challenge—staying healthy and maintaining the team's sharpness as the playoff grind intensifies.
“I think staying healthy and making sure we’re mindful of our bodies, feeling our bodies and everything, is very important. It’s a quick turnaround—there are a lot of games in a short period of time compared to the preliminaries,” Van Sickle shared.
“We’re hitting the playoffs now, and it’s anyone’s game. We have to stay level-headed, keep our confidence, and stick together as a team. It’s going to be stressful—that’s how it always is at the end of the season—but we just have to embrace it, learn from it, and keep pushing to see what we can achieve.”
The Angels closed out the preliminary round in emphatic fashion, sweeping Nxled in straight sets, 25-19, 25-14, 25-17, Thursday night at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City. Van Sickle once again led the charge, delivering 17 points—15 of which came from attacks—while MJ Phillips added 14 markers, including nine attacks, three aces, and two kill blocks.
With the win, Petro Gazz matched Creamline’s 10-1 record. However, due to an inferior set ratio, the Angels settled for the No. 2 seed, setting up a qualifying round showdown against No. 11-ranked Capital1.
Despite falling short of the top seed, Van Sickle remains optimistic about Petro Gazz’s chances moving forward. She believes the team’s consistency throughout the season will be crucial as they enter the most grueling stretch of the tournament.
“I think our team did a really good job during the preliminaries. We stayed consistent, regardless of who was playing. To come out with only one loss is great for our confidence heading into the playoffs. I’m just proud of the team, and I hope we can carry this energy forward,” said the 26-year-old spiker.
But as much as their success in the regular season serves as a confidence booster, Van Sickle knows that the playoffs present an entirely new level of intensity.
“I think it’s just important to focus every day, especially in practice. That’s where we put in the work. I really like how our training environment has been throughout the conference, and I hope we can keep building and pushing each other.”
“Now that it’s the playoffs, it doesn’t matter that we won 10 games—it’s basically a clean slate, and everyone is gunning for the top. We have to embrace the pressure, take every single rep seriously, and continue pushing each other while holding each other accountable.”
As the postseason looms, Van Sickle and the Angels are well aware that the road to the championship will not be easy. Every team left standing is hungry for the title, and the margin for error is razor-thin.
But for Petro Gazz, the key will be staying composed, trusting their system, and embracing the challenge ahead.
